Love love Michael~ My hair looks great, even if I don't keep the best care of it. It gets rejuvenated every time I go see Michael. (As do my spirits!) The salon is clean, friendly, attractive, and a pleasure to spend time in. Highly highly recommended. read more

I got a great trendy Mallet haircut) I found this place on the recommendation and I wasn't disappointed. Surprisingly, the social media of masters and the salon is almost empty and they don't have online appointments, maybe because they are full. read more

I have been going to Dana for almost 20 years because she's the only stylist I've gone to that knows how to deal with my thick curly hair. My mom, my sister and my 7 year old daughter also go to Dana because she's the best. If you have thick hair and you want it to be more manageable, go to Dana read more

Love getting my hair done with Michael. He's the best! My hair is not the easiest to deal with but somehow he manages to master it each and every time. I have a long appointment but it goes by so quickly with Michael. Great conversations along with GREAT haircut, color and highlight. Highly recommend. Don't miss out! read more

Amazing service! I have been going here for years for very good reason! I always feel like I receive top-notch service and they make you feel so special. I look forward to each and every one of my appointments! read more

Jill is the best!!!!!!!!!! i first started going to her about 5 years ago and was terrified to do anything different with my hair.... i've learned to trust her so much that i now go in, and tell her to do whatever she wants... no matter what i KNOW it's going to be amazing! She knows what she's doing and why she's doing it... she knows how different hair types react to different styles, cuts, colors and treatments. She knows whats in style and can easily vision what would look good on you. THE BEST!! ever!! no one beats this girl!! i promise you won't leave unhappy.... and she won't let you either!!!! read more

Sooooo...after many (too many) bad haircuts with hair salons all over SD, my hubby finally decided to go see Jill and what a SUCCESSful trip. The girl is the BOMBdiggity....she worked her ever-so creative talent on my hubby's "cow-licky" hair and he looks amazing. Thank you Jill for hookin' us up....he is rockin the faux hawk he never thought he wanted. After explaining to us that she ALSO does not like the faux hawk she explained to us WHY it would fit him. This is why I love her....she explains everything and knows what the heck she is doin'. Stay classy ;) read more

At Michael Nelson Studio not only will you get great color and cut but have a great time. I always feel like there is a mini party going on. You will walk out looking fabulous. I have had Terry, Sam and Michael cut and color my hair. They are all artist and do a wonderful job. I highly recommend this establishment. read more

I've been getting my hair cut here for years and have had the best experiences. I started out getting my hair cut by Jill and now get my hair done by Dana. Dana always knows exactly how to make my hair look amazing, not always an easy task since it's long, thick, and very curly, and I wouldn't trust anyone else with my hair. Definitely give this place a try if you are looking for a new salon! read more

I just love this place, every time I come here they make me feel not just like a customer but a person and Mary is to hair like Andy Warhol is to art! I find this place not only professionally amazing but their quality is unsurpassed. I would recommend them to anybody with total confidence read more

I originally started going to Michael Nelson when the ONLY person I will let touch my hair started working there. I love the Michael Nelson Studio, EVERYONE there is so professional, polite and down to earth. Everytime I go it feels like I am treating myself which getting your hair/make-up/nails done should feel like, but lets be realistic not every place you go feels like that. I started going to Jill over 10 years ago. I had extremely long, curly, thick and extremely bleach damaged hair the first time I went to Jill. She asked me what I wanted done and I told her "do what you want just don't make me look stupid." She chopped my hair off explaining to me that my hair was fried, of course before she chopped it off she asked if I would mind. But true to her word she gave me the best bob EVER she shaped it so I wouldn't get "Triangle head" and showed me how to style it curly and straight. All I can say is ever since... everytime I go to Jill I just give her creative license to do what she wants...it ALWAYS turns out perfect!!!! Thank You Jill!!!! read more

I have been living in the San Diego area a little over a year and wanted a change. Jill was recommended by a friend. I have to color my hair monthly because the grey comes in so quick. Jill gave me highlights and a really cute cut. The grey doesn't seem to look as noticeable in between colorings. I booked my next appt before I left. Thanks Jill!!! read more

I have been bouncing around from hair stylist to hair stylist for about 10 years now. my fav that I went to moved to ny to be a stylist in model shoots and runway shows so i was abandoned....until I went to Jill. She is so great with hair and people! on time, detail oriented, but doesnt take forever. Jill keeps up on her education too and goes to classes to stay current on the latest techniques. End of story, I left with killer hair. I got just a cut and she styled it with loose, pretty, shiny curls. $35 for a blowout and complimentary bang trims all year too. woo hoo! read more

now that i don't work here anymore, i can write a review. this place is great. anyone you choose to go to will do a great job. and the best part for the client is that there isn't any competitiveness between the stylists. you can go see anyone you want, and no one gets upset. its clean. organized. courteous. trendy. and professional. continuing education is very important to these girls so you're getting the latest cuts and color services. they do the job right without cutting corners. (which is rare in this industry) go see my friends and get your hair done at a truly wonderful salon. read more

Michael is a master! They don't get any better. He is a bit pricier than other hair dressers who work with him, but it's well worth having him do your hair if your budget doesn't allow monthly visits: when he cuts/styles your hair, by some magic with which he wields the scissors, it keeps looking nice even if you have to wait a few months to return. With other stylists, I've looked good when I leave the salon, but in a few weeks, my hair is a mess and I can't make it look nice no matter how hard I try. Quality over quantity definitely works with Michael. But, hey! If you can go every month, more's the better. read more

Mary has been cutting my hair for years. I generally get my hair highlighted about once a year, lightening it up for the summer. She highlighted my hair yesterday with two shades of blonde. The color and cut are beautiful! My hair is now the same color as my daughters - selling me even more on the good job she did. Salon itself is very cute - everyone is really friendly. read more

Expect to be pampered as soon as you walk thru the doors. Both Michael and Jill have done my hair and I would never go anywhere else. I always tell them to "just give me any cut that flatters my face shape", and I have loved each and every cut. The staff is very professional and courteous. Every visit has been a wonderful experience. read more

I have been getting my hair done by Jill for almost 10 years now.She is amazing!! Her color job is the BEST!! and i love not having to go in and worry about how my hair is going to look when shes done,i just let her do her thing and it always looks great.I love this girl she is the sweetest and i would recommend anyone to her :)!! read more

Laura is the greatest! She has done an amazing job cutting and coloring my hair. She has taken me from a gross mousy brown to funky purple streaks to jet black! You should call and make an appointment with her today! read more

I've been going to Mary for over 20 years! She is a gifted stylist. Michael's salon is beautiful, comfortable and always fun! Everyone is kind, professional and welcoming. read more

I have had my hair cut by quite a few people over the years and have not always left very happy with the results. I was given a gift certificate (from my sister) to see Bethany (Beth) at this salon. Not only was she a great listener when it came to my ideas for my desired style, she gave her professional opinion about what would work best with my hair ((I have fine hair and have experiences some hair loss due to gastric bypass surgery)) without totally changing my original vision. Not only is Bethany very talented and skilled in cutting and coloring she has become my friend. I love our time together as she pampers me and we get caught up with the newest happenings in our lives. I only wish I could afford to go to her every 6 weeks- not that her prices aren't reasonable- they totally are- I'm just usually too broke all the time. But I will say this- as long as Bethany is doing hair I won't let anyone else touch mine!! I always leave there with tears because I never envision the end result looking as great as it does. read more

Great Salon! Amazing service! Beautiful, warm and welcoming atmosphere!! Laura has been coloring my hair for a couple of years....and I love it every time! Her attention to detail and great head massage during the shampoo is so appreciated! Jill has been cutting my hair and she's fantastic too! Very talented!! I highly recommend Laura and Jill if you're looking for a new salon! Can't wait to return for my next appointment! read more

Laura is an incredibly sweet and down to earth girl! My hair was all blonde and the roots were about an inch long! I badly needed my roots touched up and I wanted to do something new with my hair. I decided i wanted to put a strawberry look into my hair. She was able to fix my roots, and put a beautiful 'sun-burst' color into my hair. She suggested we leave my hair blonde and do highlights with the sun burst color. I'm so glad she came up with this idea because my hair looks amazing! She is a very experienced stylist, and I'm going to her to get my hair done from now on! And the prices aren't insane! I'm so happy I found this salon! Not only did a get a stylist with an awesome personality, I got someone with experience. She was willing to try something new with my hair and its not often you find that. A lot of stylists are too scared to try something new! She was willing to give me what I was looking for and make it look better than I could even imagine! read more

Dana Coit has been doing my hair for 8 yrs. or so. I love her! She does an awesome job and I don't know what I'd do if she left. I've referred many friends and family to her and I know I can trust her work! While I'm not super adventurous with my hair, I have had her cut it all off before and loved it! When I feel like a change, I'm not afraid to let her experiment with my color or cut. Go see Dana! read more

Great Salon! Kendall did my hair and it was probably the best hair cut I have ever had and her attention to detail was great. They have nail services available too! read more

This salon has been here for many, many years, and I first came here in the 90s when it was a bustling nail salon called Lynnie's. They did hair too, but I only went for nails. Well, thankfully times changed and the nail thing is gone. I moved away for about 10 years, came back to SD, then by chance, a coworker referred me to Laura at what is now Michael Nelson Salon. A nice surprise was walking to the back room and seeing Lynnie still there doing hair, only she doesn't own it anymore. She's still a burst of sunshine. The place still has a nice, comfy feel - set in a nicely-restored bungalow converted to a salon, it feels like you're visiting your friend's house for the afternoon. The staff are all super sweet, no competition like some other salons (you can tell they are all friends) and the conversations are always interesting and lively! If you're like most girls, it's a good 2+ hours spent with your stylist, so you get to know one another pretty well and time goes by easier if you're with a nice person. Laura is a wonderful stylist AND person. Her color jobs are phenomenal, and when I was ready for a drastic re-do (going much shorter) I took in a random picture in of the closest thing I could find to my vision, and she aced it! She definitely is the color guru and knows her stuff! I like that, in the middle of all our great personal conversations, she talks me through her hair ideas and we can discuss new products, styling tricks, etc. Aside from professionalism, Laura is a beautiful person, inside and out. She genuinely cares for her clients and it shows by the way she relates to them. She even helped me through a challenging family situation with a professional referral that turned out to be perfect for me! (I think some hairdressers really earn their therapist wings!) You can't go wrong at this salon. Street parking is usually pretty easy, even on busy Saturdays, and prices are fantastic too! Some stylists here take credit cards, though I think Laura only accepts checks and cash, but ask when you call. It's definitely worth my drive to La Mesa. And while you're out there, make the drive extra worth it and hit up the Target at nearby Grossment Center - best two-story in San Diego! read more

Sam is amazing!he has been cutting/coloring my hair for about 2 years now. If you want someone who.is super chilled and talented go t9 Sam

I get the best & most stylish haircuts from Michael. My hair color comes out beautiful too. I have never had a haircut I didn't love. I highly recommend getting your hair done at the Michael Nelson Studio. Michael is fabulous. read more

Jill has been my colorist for over 5 years. She also does a very good style and blow dry after my color treatment. I have never been disappointed by my color or had to return for color correction. My hair is and looks very healthy, and I consistently receive complements from my clients and co-workers about my hair. Jill stays current with style, color trends but understand my wants and needs for a more conventional, conservative look. I highly recommend Jill! read more

Mary has been cutting my hair for 15 years. She is an amazing person and an amazing hairdresser. I would recommend her to anyone.

Sam is awesome. He did balayage to my hair a couple of times and it turned out great! Would recommend him to all my friends.

Jill is the way to go! I have been going to Jill for 10 or so years. I followed her from her previous place of work (yes she is that good). I get compliments on her work all the time... I usually get a cut and color and my hair is always stylish and up to date. Apart from being great at hair artistry, she is awsome to chat with. I highly recommend Jill. read more

Go see Jill! She's the best! Thanks to yelp reviews I found Jill at Michael Nelson's. New in town, you pray that there is someone out there with enough skills to work with your "impossible hair." Not only is Jill a skilled professional, she also has a great sense of humor - an important ingredient when working with impossible hair. Very relaxed and fun atmosphere to be in while Jill works her magic. After two self-inflicted "high lights from a box" she colored my hair to the way it's supposed to be. Thank you Jill ! Additionally: safe and plentiful street parking. Reasonable pricing. read more

After more than 10 years of having Michael do my color/cut he called one day to say that he was not able to do my hair any more. After the sudden death of my brother in Palm Springs, I had to call and cancel an appointment last minute. He was not understanding of my situation and said that since I missed an appointment he could no longer do my hair. So very disappointed in the way he treated a long time customer. read more

Great service and atmosphere. Sam has been cutting my hair for over a year, and I love the quality and attention to detail of his work. Always walk out looking ultra-glam! read more

Love this studio I have been getting my hair cut and colored by Mary for over 25 years. When she came to this studio I was delighted by the atmosphere and group of artists. Love the customer service and friendly employees that work well together read more

I decided to try this place due to its high yelp reviews. It was great! Street parking wasn't bad, and the salon is cute and funky. The receptionist, Gina, was very nice and found a last minute spot for me, even on a busy Friday. She set me up with Sam, who was a total sweetheart and great stylist. He was just the right amount of chatty, and other employees popped in and out of the area to say hi and take a peek (without being too nosey or intrusive). I was offered water and coffee. Since I was there for a birthday cut, he gave me the whole 9 yards: shampoo (with a small scalp massage), blowdry, and flat ironed then curled my hair for me...and only charged me for the cut! Even if I had paid for it all, their prices are very reasonable. The best part was that my hair turned out exactly like the mental image I had for myself, perfectly curled, shiny, and glamorous. To top it off, he explained all the steps of the cut to me to make sure it wasnt too short (since I'm trying to grow it out), and he took his time styling so I could watch and practice the technique at home. I will definitely be returning. read more

Mary has been cutting my fine, curly hair for over 2 years now. Every hair cut is exactly what I ask for. I like a short pixie cut which can be difficult due to cowlicks and areas where my hair is curlier than in other areas. She manages these problem areas so that I always have coverage at my temples where my hair line is rather sparse. 3 of my friends have started getting their hair cut and colored by Mary because they were so impressed with my cuts. If you want a really great cut every time, ask for Mary!! Although I do not have my hair colored, she does a terrific job on two of my friends hair. read more

Dana is the best hairstylist I've ever had. My first appointment with Dana was in 2007 (I was 25 at the time) after what felt like a lifetime of bad haircuts. The first cut she gave me changed my life; it was one of those experiences that permanently transformed the way I see myself. I actually cried! I had no idea I could look and feel as stylish as Dana made me with that first cut, and she's been living up to that skill and talent ever since - and continuously growing in her mastery! I have an unruly mane: super thick, super wavy, super cowlicky and crazy. Added to that challenge is the fact that I demand cuts that do not require me to do any styling; I want to get out of the shower, air dry, and go! Dana knows how to work with my hair to take the weight out, tame the wildness, and bring out the curls in a natural and beautiful way - no styling required. Dana is highly meticulous and always in touch with fresh, fashion-forward hairstyles. She has cut my hair in medium-length styles, super long styles and recently transitioned me to an amazing above-the-shoulder "lob" style, and through it all she has given me highly-skilled, carefully crafted, sophisticated, gorgeous cuts. I've strayed to other stylists a few times over the years, and I always ended up back with Dana, realizing small conveniences like a shorter drive to the salon or a cheap Groupon deal are totally not worth the suffering that comes with a sub-par haircut. I recently moved to San Francisco and have been to three different stylists - all supposedly TIGI-trained and who charge a fortune - and not one has given me a cut that displays the skill and artistry that Dana's work does. I'll be traveling back to Dana for my hairstyling needs because stylists with her level of talent are hard to find, and the way I feel after she cuts my hair is worth it! read more

One word.. Jill.. She's AMAZING! I have always had bad experiences with people doing my hair and I am extremely nourotic about my tresses. My sister referred me to her and I have always walked out with a smile on my face. She's what I call my "Hair Guru". Super down to earth and great personality too. read more